Abstract
The Shuangdun site, a key early Neolithic settlement in the middle reaches of the Huaihe River, has yielded three mutually corroborating categories of pig-themed cultural remains: pig bones, pig-shaped incised signs, and pig-shaped clay figurines. These remains not only represent the plastic arts of Huaihe civilization but also embody the primitive spiritual beliefs and survival wisdom of its ancient inhabitants. This paper examines the continuity between these three categories of pig-themed remains and the later Huaihe Pig God Worship. From the perspective of art anthropology, this study decodes the symbolic connotations embedded in the pig-shaped imagery, reconstructs the transformation process of these genes through archaeological artifacts and historical texts, and verifies their living continuity through modern and contemporary Huaihe River folk customs. To address the challenge of sparse evidence during the long “gap period” from prehistoric times to the pre-Qin era, this study adopts a “clue-based” argumentation strategy, demonstrating genetic continuity by identifying structural similarities in the dual core of “fertility prayer” and “clan protection” across different cultural forms throughout history. The academic value lies in enriching the theoretical paradigm of interdisciplinary research between prehistoric art and folklore. Its practical value is reflected in guiding the living heritage of Shuangdun culture and providing a reference for tracing the origins of intangible cultural heritage items in the Huaihe River region.
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How to cite this paper
From “Pregnant Pig Clay Figurine” to “Pig God Worship”: A Study on the Continuation of Folk Genes in Animal Carvings of Shuangdun Culture from the Perspective of Art Anthropology
How to cite this paper: Yifei Liu. (2026) From “Pregnant Pig Clay Figurine” to “Pig God Worship”: A Study on the Continuation of Folk Genes in Animal Carvings of Shuangdun Culture from the Perspective of Art Anthropology. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 10(8), 1000-1004.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.08.023